10-28-2026, 01:40 AM
Quinn kept her gaze on the man. She could still feel the heat in her cheeks and it intensified a little as he looked her up and down. She still felt incredibly visible and vulnerable. It was an odd feeling, but Quinn still liked it. It wasn’t even about the attraction even if she found Gideon to be an attractive man. This was the first time she had felt visible when it hadn’t been family or someone whose attention she had bought. This was the first time she could recall someone noticing her first. To Quinn, it was an incredible moment.
Quinn returned his look up and down with one of her own. When her gaze went back to his face, it held a mischievous and inviting smile. Inviting. Not only had he noticed her, he invited more of the same. Quinn was tempted. She wasn’t naive enough to not be aware of what that could mean (even if she wasn’t sure that was what he meant). It sounded like he had come with someone else, yet he was exploring farther. Maybe he just wanted friends. Maybe he wanted more. There was a danger there - and Quinn found that somewhat exciting. Why? She didn’t know.
Quinn wished she had Lucien here to help her sort through these things. She wasn’t always good at figuring out what her random feelings meant. Lucien was always good at helping her sort through it. Like a reminder, she felt her wallet buzz a notification. Lucien had likely responded to her earlier message, but she didn’t want to check it yet. She wanted to be polite.
The attention made her want to do two things - either burrow deeper into Kai’s arms and hide from the attention, or approach and step farther into the situation. She liked the attention enough that she stepped forward, closer to Gideon, starting to accept Gideon’s smiling invitation. After all, she was here to celebrate her success. It would be more fun with others.
”I’m Quinn,” she said, a light, but bright smile on her face. She turned to the bartender. ”Next round is on me - whatever they want. Another water for Eido unless she wants something stronger.” Quinn realized that she had just taken a big step for her. To her companions (except maybe Eido), it might have seemed like nothing, but to her, she had shown great bravery.
Quinn returned his look up and down with one of her own. When her gaze went back to his face, it held a mischievous and inviting smile. Inviting. Not only had he noticed her, he invited more of the same. Quinn was tempted. She wasn’t naive enough to not be aware of what that could mean (even if she wasn’t sure that was what he meant). It sounded like he had come with someone else, yet he was exploring farther. Maybe he just wanted friends. Maybe he wanted more. There was a danger there - and Quinn found that somewhat exciting. Why? She didn’t know.
Quinn wished she had Lucien here to help her sort through these things. She wasn’t always good at figuring out what her random feelings meant. Lucien was always good at helping her sort through it. Like a reminder, she felt her wallet buzz a notification. Lucien had likely responded to her earlier message, but she didn’t want to check it yet. She wanted to be polite.
The attention made her want to do two things - either burrow deeper into Kai’s arms and hide from the attention, or approach and step farther into the situation. She liked the attention enough that she stepped forward, closer to Gideon, starting to accept Gideon’s smiling invitation. After all, she was here to celebrate her success. It would be more fun with others.
”I’m Quinn,” she said, a light, but bright smile on her face. She turned to the bartender. ”Next round is on me - whatever they want. Another water for Eido unless she wants something stronger.” Quinn realized that she had just taken a big step for her. To her companions (except maybe Eido), it might have seemed like nothing, but to her, she had shown great bravery.